Meter.



G; D. POGUE.

METER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 39. I915.

Wanted m 11,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I G. D. POGUE.

METER.

' APPLICATION FILED on. 29. 1915.

Patented Dec. 11, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

METER.

Specification or Letters Patent. pmmm pm, M yam Am llcation filed October 29, 1915. Serial No. &625.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, Gnonon l). Poses, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Meters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to meters of the type that are used for measuring air, gas

and other fluidar' It is customary to state quantities of compressed air in terms of cubic feet of free air or cubic feet of air at atmospheric pressure. The same rule applies to gas, both natural and manufactured, and contracts for the sale of the latter commodity are usually based on the delivery of a certain number of cubic feet at atmospheric pressure. Where gas is metered at high pressure, for

' instance, 250 pounds gage, the meter readdetermining quantities of air, gas and other fluids are designed to give a record of the total quantity passed without regard to the time required for passage, and if it is desired to determine, at any moment, the rate of flow, for instance, in terms of cubic feet per minute, it is, of course, necessary to take the time element into account. This introduces several disadvantages, as the results are dependent upon the tlme piece used, the personal accuracy of the observer and the accuracy of the computations made after the readings were secured. Furthermore, considerable time is required to make the necessary observations and computations.

The main object of my invention is to provide a meter or metering apparatus of novel construction for indicating directly therate of flow of-air, gas or any other fluid.

Another object is to provide a meter of the character referred to that will also indicate the gage pressure of the medium being metered.

And still another object is to provide a [flow rate meter which is so constructed that it is not necessary for the observer to make allowance for the gage pressure of the medium being metered in determining the rate of flow of said medium in terms of a certam volume at atmospheric pressure. Other objects and desirable features of my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

Briefly described, my invention consists in a meter provided with a movable member whose position is governed by the velocity of the medium being metered, and means cooperating with said member for denoting the rate of flow of the medium. Said means preferably consists of a visual indicator or indicating means which is so designed that it will show the cubic feet of free air per minute that passes through the meter. In one form of my invention the indicating means consists merely of a stationary element, such, for example, as-a dial or graduated scale, and a cotiperating movable element, such, for example, as a pointer, whose position on said dial is governed by the velocity-actuated member of the meter. Tn another form of my invention, however, the dial or graduated scale moves automatically with relation to the pointer, as the pressure of the medium being metered varies, so as to make allowance or compensate for variations in the pressure of the medium, thus overcoming the necessity for the observer to make an allowance for the gage pressure in determining the rate of flow of the medium.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a front elevational view, partly in vertical section, of a meter constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal, longitudinal sectional view, illustrating another form of my invention; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the meter illustrated in Fig. 3, showing a portion of same in vertical section, taken on the line 4.l of Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, which illustrates one form of my invention, A designates a member whose position is governed by the velocity of the medium being metered, said member being arranged inside of a chamber or passageway 1 through which the medium being metered flows in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig.

- element whose position anges automatically whenever the member A moves, so as to indicate the rate of flow of the medium traveling through the chamber orpassageway 1. In the form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 1 said movable element consists of a pointer or indicator 2 that travels over a stationary dial or graduated scale 3, marked with numerals or other suitable indicia, so as to express in direct terms the rate of flow of the medium, the dial of the meter shown in Fig. 1 being marked to 1ndicate the cubic feet of free air per minute that passes through the meter.

The member A is of less dimensions than the cross-sectional area of the interior of the passageway 1 in which said member is arranged, so that it will not be influenced by the pressure. of the medium in said passageway, and while the shape of said member is immaterial so far as my broad idea is concerned, I prefer to make it substantially bell-shaped, or hemisphericalshaped, as shown in Fig.1, so as to insure movement of same when the medium being metered travels through the passageway 1. One convenient way of mounting the member A is to connect it to a rod 4 that is suported or suspended by means of swinging iinks 5, as shown in Fig. 1, one of said links being formed by an extension on the lower end of the indicator Any suitable means may be employed for holding the indicator 2 at zero on the dial 3 when no air, gas or other fluid is traveling through the passageway 1, and for restoring said indicator to zero after the flow of the medium through said passageway has ceased. The means that I have herein illustrated for accomplishing this consists of two coiled sprin 6 and 6 arranged on opposite sides of t e indicator 2 and connectedto adjusting devices 7 that can be manipulated so as to vary the tension of said springs, and thus accurately regulate the indicator 2. A stop 8 that is arranged in 'the passageway 1 forms an abutment against which the end of the rod t strikes when the indicator 2 stands at the highest numeral or graduation on the dial 3. In a meter of the character shown in Fig. 1, namely, one which is designed to indicate the rate of flow of a medium traveling through a conduit or passageway, it is preferable to arrange the indicator 2 in a housing 9 that is air-tight and in communication With the passageway '1, so as to overcome the necessity of using a packed joint for the indicator 2 or the connection be- 'tween said indicator and the member A. I

- construction above described, for said meter illustrates only one form of my invention.

The housing 9 of the meter shown in Fi 1 is provided in one of its side walls wit a sight opening covered with a piece of glass or other transparent material 10, so as to vices 7 that regulate the tension of the springs 6 and 6 are arranged on the outside of the housing 9 and are normally incased bv removable caps 11 so as to prevent the medium being metered from leaking through the openings in said housing through which the devices 7 pass.

The meter illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is similar to the meter shown in Fig. 1, but it is so constructed that the observer does not have to make any allowance for the gage pressure of the medium being metered in determining the rate of flow of said medium. It comprises a movable member A whose position is governed by the velocity 'of the medium that travels through the chamber or passageway 1, an indicator 2 controlled by said member A and a dial 3 cotiperating with said indicator and combined with a means that causes said dial to move relatively to said indicator when the pressure of the medium being metered varies. The dial 3 is arranged in a plane at approximately right angles to the plane in which the swinging links 5 move and the indicator 2* is rovided at its outer end with an upwardly ent portion, as shown in Fig. 4, that travels over the dial 3. The dial 3 is carried by sleeves 12 that are slidingly mounted on guide rods 13 arranged in a housing 9 that projects laterally from one side of the passageway 1, and said dial is provided wit-h an independent set of graduations, preferably numerals that denote the pressure per square inch of the medium. As shown in Fig. 4, the dial 3 is provided with a plurality of horizontally ruled lines and with the numbers 50,

60, 70, 80, 90, 100 and 110 which are arranged at one end of the dial opposite said horizontal lines. Said dial is also provided with a vertical line and with a plurality of curved lines that cross the horizontal lines previously mentioned, the numeral 0 being arranged at the upper end of the dial over said vertical line and the numbers 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and being arranged at the upper end of the dial over the curved lines that cross the horizontal lines, the dial being marked with suitable words to show that the numbers in the vertical column at the left hand end of same indicate the pressure per square inch and that the horizontal row of numbers at the upper end of the dial indicates cubic feet of free air per minute. It Will, of course, be understood that the dial or scale of the indicating means could be ttt till

:uaaaaa I marked in various other ways. Therefore, I do not wish-it to be understood that my invention is limited to a meter provided with an indicating means of the character described for indicating the pressure and the rate of flow of the medium being metered. The position of the dial 3 is governed b a pressure-controlled device consisting o a piston 14 arranged in a cylinder 15 mounted on the upper end of the housing 9, the rod 14: of said piston being connected to a cross member 16 secured to the sleeves 12 and a spring 17 being arranged inside of the cylinder 15, so as to cooperate with said plston to hold the dial 3* in its extreme lower position when no pressure exists in the chamber or passageway 1, the cylinder 15 being provided at its upper end with an orifice 15 as shown in Fig. 4, so as to ermit the piston in said cylinder to move reely. When no pressure exists in the chamber '1, and when no air, gas or other fluid is traveling throu h said chamber, the arrow head on the in icator 2 will stand at zero and in alinement with the topmost horizontal line on the indicator 3*. When the medium being metered travels through the passa eway 1 the memher A will move to the le t more or less, according to the velocity of said medium, and the dial 3 will move upwardly more or less, according to the pressure of said medium. If the pressure of the medium is 90 pounds per square inch the dial 3" W111 move upwardly far enough to bring the horlzontal line on the dial, marked 90, into alinement with the arrow-head on the indicator '2, and if the rate of flow of the medium is cubic feet of free air per minute, the arrowhead on the indicator will stand at the curved cross line marked 10, thus indicating that the pressure of the medium is 90 pounds per square inch and that it traveling through the passageway 1 at the rate of 10 cubic feet of free air per minute. It will thus be seen that the meter illustrated in Fig. 4 not only shows the rate offlow per minute and the pressure per square inch, but it also overcomes the necessity of the observer making allowance for the gage pres sure in determining the rate of flow, owing to the fact that any variation in the pressure of the medium causes the dial 3 to move automatically with relation to its cooperating indicator 2, said dial being so marked that it automatically compensates for slight variations in the position of the indi cator 2*, due to variation in the pressure of the medium.

A meter or metering apparatus of the construction above described will indicate directly the rate of flow of air, gas or any other fluid; it comprises a single dial which shows the gage pressure of the medium, as well as the rate of flow of the medium; and it overcomes the necessity of the observer I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent, is:

1. A meter for the purpose described, comprlslng a chamber or passageway through -which the medium to be metered travels,

avmovable member in said passageway whose positlon is governed by the velocity of Sfllfl medium, a scale or dial, an indicator combined with said movable member 1n such a manner that it moves over said scale when said member moves, and means for causing said scale to move in a direction at approximately right angles to the path of movement of said indicator when the pressure in saidpassageway varies.

2. meter for the purpose described, comprising a chamber or passageway, a

dtlt

freely movable member in said passageway whose posltlon is governed by the velocity of the medium that passes through said passageway, said member being so designed and arranged that variations in the pressure of sald medium will not result in a change in the posltion of said member, a movable indicator whose position is governed by said member, a dial or scale that cooperates with said indicator and provided with separate and distinct marks that represent pressure and volume of the. medium being metered, and a pressure-operated device governed by the pressure of the medium in said passagelldt l ltd way for causing said dial to move in a di rection at approximately right angles to the path of movement of said indicator when the pressure of the medium 1n said passageway varies.

3. A. meter for the purpose described, comprlsing a chamber or passageway through which the medium to be metered travels, a movable member arranged in said passageway, means that holds said member in a certain position in said passageway when no mediumis traveling through said passageway, irrespective of the pressure in said passageway, a visual indicating means that cooperates with said member to indicate the quantity of the medium that travels through said passageway in a given time, said visual indicating means comprising an indicator controlled by said movable member, a movable dial or scale that cooperates with said indicator, and a device governed by the pressure in said passageway for controlling the position or said dial and causing it to move in a direction at approximately right angles ltltlt lllllt to the path of mo'vementof said indicator when the pressure in said passageway varies.

4. A meter for the purpose described, comprisin a chamber or passageway, a substan- 5 tially %ell-shaped member arranged in said passageway with its concave portion presented toward the medium that flows through said passageway, swinging links that support said member, a dial or grad- 10 uated scale, a cooperating indicator whose position changes automatically whenever the member in said passageway moves, a resilient means combined with said indicator for holding it at a certain point on said scale and means for varying the tension of sai 15 resilient means.

In testimony whereof-I hereunto afiix my signature in the resence of two witnesses, this twenty-fifth day of October 1915.

. GEORGE D. POGUE. Witnesses:

WELLS L. CHURCH, Gnonen BAKEWELL. 

